After the Xu family's matter was settled, the Li family forbade anyone to discuss Xu Yan's affairs, and there was no further news after two days.
Time flew by, and the prophesied day drew ever closer, while the atmosphere in the Li family grew increasingly heavy and oppressive.
Liu Yun's nerves also tightened. As the mistress of the house, how could she not know Li Xuming's actions? Recently, many people had disappeared from the mansion, including Fang Da, who served Li Xuming personally, and his entire family.
So the families held a meeting together, and Li Xuming told Liu Yun, Mo Qiaoniang, and Qi Wan everything, and also told Qi Wan about the Li family's plan to divorce.
No matter how unwilling Qi Wan was, she couldn't go against the Li family and her father. That's right, the Qi family also knew that the Li family was going to have trouble. It wasn't Pan Jinhua's dream that told them, but a letter from the capital.
Fang Xiang had already arrived in the capital, but only upon arrival did he learn that many officials involved in the salt smuggling case had already been imprisoned, and now Li Xufeng from the Li family had also been put in jail.
Given the dire situation, Qi's father naturally felt that his daughter's life was of utmost importance, and Pan Jinhua assured him that she would send someone to pick up Qi Wan once she settled down.
After sending Qi Wan home, Li Xuming's wife Liu Yun and Li Xushi and his wife waited in the hall.
Mo Qiaoniang had no idea that just a few days ago she had comforted her daughter and promised to find her another suitable husband, but in the blink of an eye she was told of such a major event. Hearing that Qi Wan had returned home safely, she felt a little relieved, but only a little, because a storm was brewing.
"There's no need to be so pessimistic. Although we're going to be exiled, our whole family is together. Who knows if things will be different then?"
“Mother is absolutely right, your sons understand.”
"How's the third brother doing?" Li Xuchang isn't here, so I don't know how things are going.
When Liu Yun heard her mother-in-law ask a question, she quickly replied, "Third brother, you returned shortly after you left today, so everything should be arranged properly."
Pan Jinhua sighed softly, "Your third brother's wife is five months pregnant. If we send her to exile with us, the journey will be fraught with danger, and this old woman is truly afraid."
"mother·····"
"Mother, please don't worry, my sister-in-law and I are ready."
Mo Qiaoniang and Liu Yun exchanged a glance and laughed. The three sisters-in-law were doing very well in the Li family, and naturally they would stand with the Li family through thick and thin, especially since their child was still alive.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Mother has worked so hard; she's already spoken with several relatives, but it seems things won't work out with Qingzhang either..."
"It's not good to do anything unnecessary now, let nature take its course."
After the conversation, Pan Jinhua made some detailed arrangements, and then everyone dispersed to do their own thing.
Three days later, news spread throughout Nanze County that the Li family's property had been confiscated and the entire clan exiled.
The last shoe has landed.
Upon hearing this, Li Qingzhang's in-laws immediately went to his home to annul the engagement, and the Li family readily agreed.
"Madam! The officials are here!" The steward, who was guarding the door, saw the soldiers approaching and immediately went into the main hall to report the news.
"Okay, call the children over."
Soon the whole family gathered together. Pan Jinhua looked at the bewildered children in the room, especially Li Qingtong and Li Qingjun, who were still so young and whose mothers were not by their side, and was extremely frightened.
"Come to Grandmother's side."
"Grandmother." Li Qingtong quickly pulled his younger brother to his grandmother's side. He was already a big boy and more sensible than his brother. His father had told him that something big had happened in the family and that his mother had been sent back to his maternal grandfather's house by his father to recuperate.
However, he was still a little scared and missed his mother.
Pan Jinhua patted the heads of the two children and held one in each hand.
"Don't be afraid, just do whatever the adults tell you to do. As long as our family is together, that's all that matters!"
"Yes, Mother."
"Yes, Grandmother."
The soldiers surrounded the Li family's house, led by a refined middle-aged man dressed in a blue robe. He was a scholar and was accompanied by several soldiers as he entered the Li family's house.
"Madam Li, Brother Li."
Upon seeing Pan Jinhua, the man in blue nodded in greeting.
"Our family is in distress, and we are grateful for your help today, Master Hu." The visitor was none other than Master Hu, the county magistrate's advisor.
“The servants in my household are innocent. I have already returned their indentures to them. Please let them leave on their own, Master Hu.”
“Of course it’s acceptable.” Master Hu instructed his men to make way for the servants. The servants of the Li family knelt before Pan Jinhua, then quietly rose and left.
"Madam Li once did me a great favor, and I am here today to repay that favor. Please, my colleagues, do not be rude to the Li family. I thank you all."
After the count of all the Li family members was completed, Master Hu bowed to the officials beside him and said...
The crowd returned the greeting slightly, already understanding Master Hu's meaning.
This was the matter that Pan Jinhua had asked Li Xuchang to handle that day. When Master Hu's mother was seriously ill and needed a hundred-year-old ginseng, it was a gift from the original owner of this body. Master Hu had said at the time that he owed her a favor. Now that the Li family had fallen, it was time for him to fulfill his promise.
Thanks to Master Hu's protection, the Li family was indeed spared any trouble. The Li family in the capital had already been sentenced to have their property confiscated and be exiled, so they would naturally be exiled as well. Once the confiscation was completed, they would set off.
The county's male and female prisons were separated, and because Li Qingjun was young, Pan Jinhua took him with her.
Not long after the Li family was brought in, the rest of the Li family members were also arrested and brought in. They were all from the same clan, yet they filled three prison cells. As soon as this group of women entered, some of them began to cry and scream, cursing heaven and earth, making Pan Jinhua's ears ring.
"Quiet! Anyone who makes another sound will be holding a stick!"
The jailer, annoyed by the noise, roared and the cell fell silent. The person crying simply sat there silently shedding tears.
Pan Jinhua breathed a sigh of relief and hugged Li Qingjun. He was small, but he didn't cry or make a fuss and sat obediently in his grandmother's arms.
No one bothered her, and she wasn't tortured; it was far better than the prison life Pan Jinhua had anticipated.
-------
On the third day in prison, Pan Jinhua's eldest son-in-law, Jiang Jiangong, came to visit her.
"Thank you for your hard work, officer. Tonight I've prepared a feast at Wanxiang Restaurant. Please, gentlemen, have a drink."
Jiang Jiangong thanked the prison warden beside him.
"Then I thank Master Jiang on behalf of all the brothers. Please make yourself at home, Master Jiang, we can't stay too long." The jailer smiled. A meal at Wanxiang Restaurant would cost a lot of money. Master Jiang had given them money for leading the way, and they would split it with the brothers later. They would also have a good drink. The in-laws of the Li family were really honest people.
Seeing the jailer leave happily, Jiang Jiangong then solemnly bowed to Pan Jinhua.
"Jiangong, there's no need for further formalities in this situation."
“Mother, my sisters-in-law have suffered. They were not allowed to enter the prison for the first three days despite offering money. They were allowed in today, but they were not allowed to bring food, so they could only bring some snacks. The food in the prison is not good, and the pastries were all made by Fengniang herself. You and my sisters-in-law must take good care of yourselves. The children still need your care.”
"Everything is fine here. How is it outside?"
Pan Jinhua accepted the snacks, but her mind was preoccupied with the news outside.
"I heard they've already set off from the capital, but it might take a while longer here. My brother-in-law and I have already agreed that we'll come and let you know the next day. Things aren't as strict here as in the capital, so please rest assured, Mother, we'll make all the arrangements."
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